General Season Opener Excitement Thread

How many people can really sit down and watch a hockey game at 10am on a Friday? The unemployed and the self employed, I would guess. To those of you who will enjoy the game live, consider me jealous. Myself, I will be watching the game later on in the day, so don’t expect to hear a peep out of me until that time comes, but feel free to do all your hootin’ and hollerin’ here, I will just refrain from looking at the site (or any other) throughout the day. It’s going to be tough, but hey, we suffer for our team in more ways than one.

You all know most of the details on the game, European opener in Sweden against the Rangers, technically a home game (why do I feel like I’m still getting charged for 41 games?) yada yada. I only care that finally some chips are on the table. I have nothing to say about the Rangers except that it must be a high honor to pay Sean Avery a bundle of money to do nothing. It’s not often that people in the Big Apple and Dallas have so much in common.

We heard this morning that my supposedly insane ranting against Scott Parse being in the top 6 to start the season isn’t so insane after all. Penner won’t make it, so he’s off to the same non-factor start this year as he was last year when he came to Kings. My boy Brad Richardson (the only Richie on this team) will play alongside Mikey/Riks/Riches/whatever it was that Brown called him, on the second line, while Gagne will play with Kopitar and Williams. Parse will get the look on the third line with Stoll and Hunter. Part of me likes this move, because those top two lines look pretty nice. However the downside is that this Stoll line will probably still be the top checking unit and I’m still waiting to see if Parse can play defense. I guess regardless of where he landed it was going to be in a fire fresh from the frying pan.

Defensive pairings look like they’ll be same as last season and Quick will start in goal. Now despite all my ravings about Parse, Johnny Q will be the guy I am scrutinizing on my DVR tomorrow. He has not looked too sharp in preseason and since neither has the defensive structure, he needs to be better than just good.

I have to admit, my excitement is tempered by the fact that I can’t watch this game live. It’s a big bummer and I am more than a little resentful against the NHL for seeing to this Euro-craze. Selfish? Absolutely. I would prefer they play these overseas games just after or before either the Christmas break or All Star break. That makes more sense to me, selfishly and otherwise.

Anyways, I probably don’t sound revved up enough, what with being bitter and all. Maybe I just need to get all my negativity out of the way now in anticipation of the explosion of Kings hockey exultation to come as soon as I get home from work. Or perhaps it’s practice for what I fear Terry Murray is going to put me through. Fuck it, and fuck yeah!

Are you pumped? This is a community, so help me out here. I’ll get you started.

I work for myself so I’ll be watching it live. I’m actually happy it’s on so early because that makes the wait that much shorter. Always excited for the start of the season but nothing like I am this year!

My one-week vacation ends today – my wife made my coffee and lovingly observed how much time I was spending with you misfits at all hours of the day and night while we were out of town. She didn’t mind – the point of this one was sleep. But she asked: 1) You aren’t making too big a fool of yourself are you?(asked rhetorically – of coure I am and will) and: 2) “You (notice the phrasing)will be getting past VAN and SJ this year, won’t you, Daddy?” (i.e. are you “up to it…” – the come-on on one side of the toast, the other buttered with incipient scorn). I’m on the spot here, guys…feeling the pressure(this is getting fucking personal between us, Terry…see to it that you don’t cause me to be left…dangling, so to speak. Be a good lad and help me out here. And help yourself while you’re at it).

I will be watching the DVR as well. I owe to my boss not to watch any streams (you can always find one).
I liked it better when these games were on Saturday/Sunday. Now not only do working stiffs on both coasts miss the games, they put two on at the same time to ensure you can’t watch both. Also these are the “Premiere Games”. I thought that these were to be before the rest of the season. Now we have to watch a bunch of East coast and Canadian teams first. Hell its hockey but stealing the thunder/importance of the Europe swing is not cool.

Tip: SlingBox. Lets you rebroadcast your TV service to remote devices. Some TV services (I have DISH) have built in support for it. You can record it on your DVR and then watch the recording from anywhere with an internet connection, on a computer, phone, or tablet.

It’s a bit of an up front cost, but its completely legal and not subject to blackout :-)

Ya, baby! Finally, I catch a break. That’s right knuckleheads, I will be on my couch watching the game and cheering my ass off tomorrow morning.

I have a problem though….I usually have a Crown and Coke to celebrate the first game of the season. It’s been a tradition of mine for many years….I think I’m going to change things up a little and go with Champagne and Orange juice instead. I hate these kind of problems!

F’n A!!!! WINNERS!!!
I might be the last one posting here as I just finished watching the game..another worker bee who had to tape and then watch. I don’t know about you Bobby, but whenever I watch a taped game, it takes Forever as have to rewatch certain plays over..and over..even with cutting out the Versus intermissions(although I did watch the Milbury – Jones debate on hit to the head/intent to injure
rulings. And in this instance Zucarello’s intent was crystal clear. Don’t really know why or what provoked him. I watched many Ranger games last year(Fro), and this kid is good! Small but highly skilled.
The best part of this game for me was seeing the chemistry starting to build between the players and their linesmates. Haven’t seen this in what seems like years. Had some Wow moments..gave me thrill chills :)
I Really hope Murray was able to see this as well, and keeps the lines intact.
Too bad we didn’t see this in Vegas ..oh well..
Great way to start the Season!..and Mike Richards..I am a believer now..how dynamic and gritty he is..
Great with Brownie! He is a perfect fit for our team
GO KINGS GO!!!